Vacuum cleaner construction



I Nw. 12, Q BRQCK L 2,221,572

VACUUM CLEANER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 12, 1940. c. A. BROCK ET AL VACUUM CLEANER CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 24, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet z 5 a 5 R p y W 2km NE a v A H n n W? w Nov. 12, 1940; c. A. BROYCK Em. 2,221,572

VACUUM CLEANER CONS TRUCT I ON Filed Dec. 24, 1937 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 6 22 I I I]! E4 1221* ad 7 A6 w w I 1 Z M 6H P a HI] a 54%.15

2 mp c a Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,221,572 vacuum enema CONSTRUCTION Clarence A. Brock, Detroit, Mich.I and Nodiah E. Hutchens, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Rexair, Ina, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application December 24, 1937, Serial No. 181,582 7 Claims. (cuss-25) The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for treating air, and particularly relates to a portable vacuum cleaner designed for treating air by impinging the air against the 5 surface of or otherwise bringing it into contact with a liquid bath to treat the air according to the type of liquid used as the bath.

While the specific embodiment of the invention herein shown and described is illustrated as a part of a vacuum cleaner of the type above mentioned, according to certain aspects of the present invention, the invention will find practical utility in other types of structures as will become apparent from the following description to those skilled in the art.

Primary objects of the present invention are' to provide a partitioning member between a bath of liquid and a motor and blower unit of a vacuum cleaner which resiliently bears against as by splash, from getting on to the unit; to

provide an auxiliary, resilient supporting member below a blower and motor unit which is of suflicient strength to support the unit in the event that the regular support for the unit gives way and which will then support the unit in operating position and deaden it against transmission of sound; to provide an annular member with a receptacle into which a rotary separator element extends in which the annular member has a resilient portion which serves to guide the separator when it is positioned within the receptacle; to provide a novel separator member having a tubular element associated therewith a which is adapted to be positioned in a receptacle containing a bath of liquid so that the tubular member extends below the normal surface of the I bath; and to provide a simplified vacuum cleaner structure which is economical to manufacture and which eifectively increases the operating life of the cleaner.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawings relating thereto and from the claims hereinafter set forth. V

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figural is a side elevational view with parts broken away, showing parts in section, of an apparatus embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevational view taken substantially along the line 2-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-secthe bottom of the unit to prevent moisture, such are in their assembled positions.

tional view illustrating certain details of the. embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a partitioning, supporting, and guiding member embodying features of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6' is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modified form of structure;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of another modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view on a somewhat 5 reduced scale taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig.8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view showing certain details of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of a modified form of the structure'illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 12-12 of Fig. 11: I 25 Fig. .13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 illustratingv another modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a modified form of base receptacle; and

Figs. 15 and 16 are views similar toFig. 3 3o illustrating modified structures for mounting the separator in the base receptacle according to th present invention.

The present invention relates to a structure particularly adaptable for use in the structures disclosed and claimed in the Letters Patent of the United States of Clarence A. Brock, No. 2,102,353 granted December 14, 1937, and the co-pending application for Letters Patent of the United States of Clarence A. Brock, Serial No. 130,920, filed March 15, 1937. In the patent and co-pending application referred to. vacuum cleaner structures are illustrated which include an upper casing member separably mounted to a lower base or receptacle member in which a 45 housing is mounted in the upper casing member. The housing has mounted therein a motor and a fan unit; and a rotating dust separator is secured to the shaft of the motor and extends downwardly into the receptacle when the parts According to the structure of the first mentioned co-pending. application, a liquid bath is provided. in the lower receptacle. For a better and more complete understanding of the type of liquid used in so the receptacle and the advantages of the several types of liquid which'may be used, reference may be had to the patent referred to.

According to the present invention, an annular partitioning member is positioned in the lower receptacle and has an annular resilient portion which extends into close proximity to but in slightly spaced'relation to the separator element so that the liquid contained in the receptacle such as by splash cannot pass upwardly onto the under surface of the upper unit. The annular member is also of such a construction that it serves as a guide in properly positioning the separator element in the lower receptacle and would also support the housing including the motor and fan in the event that the main sunport for the housing gave way.

Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, and referring particu 20 larly to Figs. 1 to 5, one specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated comprising a casing or housing having an intermediate portion of section I8, a lower portion I2 in the form of a pan member, and a top cover portion I 4. The housing or. casing is preferably constructed of sheet metal or other suitable construction and is generally circular in shape.

A blower housing I6 is mounted within the intermediate section III and has mounted therein a suitable electric motor l8, connected to and operated through a conventional switch structure I9, which serves to drive a plurality of centrifugal fans 28. The fans 28 provide a multiple stage blower construction tending to draw air axially upwardly through the housing It as indicated by the arrows in- Fig. '1. The blower housing is provided at its lower end with an annular flange 22 which has a groove in the axial face thereof. A separator plate24 has a grooved face adapted to mate with the grooved flange 22 and is secured thereto by means of suitable annularly spaced screws, or the like. packing-strip 26 having a beaded edge and preferably formed of rubber or suitable resilient com- 45 position is disposed with its beaded edge clamped between the separator plate 24 and the annular flange 22 by means of the screws which secure I the separator member to the flange. The other, or outer, edge of. the annular packing strip is se- 0 cured to the lower edge of the intermediate housing section II) between the lower edge of the section I8 and an annular flange member 28 which is secured to the section I 8. The se arator member 24 is prc'dded with spaced o enings 25 55 therethrough substantially centrally thereof for communicating the interior of the blower housing with the space within the receptacle I2.

Secured to the lower end of the blower sh ft 38 for rotation therewith and spaced below the 60 underside of the separator plate 24 and extending downwardly into the pan member I2 is a centrifugal dust separator element 32 adapted to be driven bv the shaft 30. The element 32 may be formed in any conventional manner. and it 65 has been found preferable to construct it from a single, integral sheet metal stamping to provide a frusto-conical structure having helically ex-- tending slots therethrough substantially throughoutits entire peripheral surface. As disclosed 7 in the co-pending applications, above referred to, the slots in the peripheral surfaces of the dust separator element 32 are defined by helically disposed bars which have their exterior surfaces rounded and tlie forward or leadin edges there- 75 of extending radially inwardly a sligh ly g e ter An annular distance than the trailing edges. By such a construction, as the dust separator element rotates the air entering the slots therein is required to follow a relatively tortuous path and due to the inertia of the dust particles it will be seen that they will necessarily impinge upon the rounded surface of the bars and be centrifugally driven away from the elements, thus preventing their entry into the interior thereof.

The dust'separator element 32 is provided at its upper axial end with a radially extending flang 34 which is suitably secured to the shaft 30 of the motor for rotation therewith. When the motor I8 is in operation, air will be drawn inwardly through the slots in the separator element 32 by means of the centrifugal blower 20 and dust or other foreign material in such air will impinge upon the rounded surfaces of the bars and be centrifugally driven away.

Secured to one side of the intermediate section III is a fltting'38 providing an air inlet opening 48 into the chamber within the pan member I 2. The

fitting 38 is provided with a spring latch mechanism M for releasably securing thereto one end of a flexible conduit 42 which is adapted to be suitably connected to a nozzle member 44.

The pan member I2 has inwardly and upwardly sloping walls over a portion thereof and has an upwardly extending upper peripheral edge 46 which is removably received within the flange 28 of the intermediate section II). A sealing strip 48 of resilient material, such as rubber, is secured within the flange 28 and embraces the upper edge of the portion 46 when the parts are in their assembled positions for providing a sealed connection between the intermediate section III and the pan. member I2. Releasable latching means 58 of suitable construction is mounted on the intermediate section III and has spring portions 52 which releasably engage the pan member to maintain it in its assembled position with the intermediate section I 8.

The pan member I2 provides a receptacle for a bath of liquid 54 having its upper level initially extended near to or adjacent the lower extremity of the separator element 52 which bath is intended as a normal operative part of the mechanism. The pan member I2 may be made of sheet metal and is provided with an integral upstanding outwardly pressed portion 56 adjacent one side ,thereof which extends upwardly into engagement with the fitting 38 for providing an air inlet conduit into the interior of the pan member I2. The pan member I2 may also be'formed of a suitable moldable material, such as rubber, in which casethe portion 56 is molded integral with the main portion of the pan I2.

The liquid within the container may be water, a germicidal solution, oi1,'or other suitable liquid, solution or mixture depending upon the purpose to which the structure is to be put.

According to the present invention, an annular member 82 is provided which has an upwardly and outwardly bent outer annular flange 84. The

flange 84 is also offset as indicated at8,6 so that the flan e 84 is complementary in shape to the shape of the upper edge 46 of the receptacle I2. An annular member 88 is suitably secured to the upper face of the member 82 by an intermediate cementing layer, and is preferably made of a material such as rubber or the like.'

The member 88 has an upwardly extending edge portion 88 and a radially inwardly extending thin edge portion 92which defines a central opening through the partition member. The member 88 also has an upstanding portion 84 adjacent the offset portion 88 of the flange 84 to define a portion of the inlet opening.

The annular member 82 is positioned within the receptacle 12 so that the flange 84 engages the-upper edge 48 of the pan member. If desired, the flange portion 84 may be made an integral part of the pan member by spot welding the flange 84 to the pan member, or it may be merely positioned in the pan member and be removable relative thereto. The thin edge portion 82 is of such a construction and arrangement that it extends to a position closely to but slightly spaced from the upper edge of the dust separator element 32 so as to prevent the passage of air above the flange portion 34 of the separatoreleme'nt without passing directly through the slots in the separator element. The upwardly directed annular edge 80 is of such a construction and arrangement thatit bears against the under surface of, the separator plate 24 when the parts are in their assembled position. The annular member 82 with its resilient portion 88 thus affords an effective partitioning member against the passage of the liquid in the form of splash or otherwise from the receptacle l2 upwardly onto the underside of the separator plate 24.

The member 82 is also of such strength that in case the member 26 which forms the sole connection between the casing l6 and the casing II! should give way the casing It would be supported by the annular member 82 and the resilient portion 88 would resiliently support the motor and fan' in operating position so that the sweeper would continue to operate and such operation would be deadened against sound from vibration.

A top cover member 88 is suitably secured to the hub of the intermediate section III and is provided with a plurality of openings 62 thereupper edge of the intermediate section I8 for providing a sealed connection between the cover l4 and the intermediate section i8 when the members are in their assembled positions. Means similar to those shown at 50 may be provided for removably securing the top 14 to the intermedi-' ate section III. A'substantially circular member 68. having openings 18 therethrough, is mounted to the inner wall of the top member l4 in spaced relation thereto, and in overlying relation to the filter 84 when the parts are in their assembled position. The treated or cleaned air passes outwardly through the opening 10 and is discharged through the openings 88 back into the room or space within which the cleaning unit is being us i. a

In operation, rotation of the centrifugal separator element 32 causes a swirling of the air within the receptacle above the surface of the of the air entering the pan l2 will be caused to moved from the air and fixed by the bath in itsassociation with the centrifugal separator. The treated or cleaned air is caused to pass through the slots in the element 32 into the blower housing, through the openings 25 and upwardly therethrough, as indicated by the arrows, into the interior of the housing section l out through the top -of the cleaner.

Referring to Fig. 6, a modified structure is provided in which a short tubular member l0l is provided which is adapted to be secured to the pan member 82 within the inlet opening defined by the flange portion 88 and the curved portion 94. The tubular member illl is of such a length that it is adapted to extend downwardly below the top surface of the liquid bath 54 to provide an air inlet conduit. The outlet of the air inlet conduit formed by the member III! is thus normally below the surface of the liquid bath which necessitates the pasage of air through the bath 54 before entering the free space within-the pan member l2 within which the separator element 32 is located. This causes the immediate submersion of air to make the separation of dust more positive, and further assures adequate contact of the entering air when a germicidal liquid is used in the receptacle for treating the air. In this structure, although the separator element 32 may be dispensed with, the separator is desirable as it will act to separate out unvaporized particles of water from the air before the air passes through the blower and is redischarged back into the room or space within which the unit is being used. Further, when the centrifugal separator is used with this structure, it need not be rotated at the high speed necessary in the embodiment previously described as the air entering the separator is already free of any foreign materials.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 instead of securing the annular resilient member 88 to the annular member 82 by cementing, as the embodiment described above, the member 88 is secured to the annular member 82 by a plurality of annularly spaced rivet members I03 which extend through the member 82 and the resilient member 88.

In another modified structure illustrated in Fig. '7 an element 14, corresponding to the portion 56, defines an air inlet conduit and tangentially enters the chamber within the pan member l2. A short tubular member I85, which is fixed to the partitioning member 82 in the same manner that the tubular memberilll is fixed thereto, is provided. The tubular member I85 is complementary in shape to the tangentially disposed portion" and provides an air inlet conduit confining the passage of air into the receptacle l2. The air entering the receptacle i2 through the inlet conduit I05 thus assists the separator element 32 in causing swirling of the liquid bath within the receptacle l2, thereby causing separation of the foreign material carried by the air.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 10, another modified structure is illustrated in which the air inlet portion of the pan member I2 is formed separate from the pan member and is then attached to the pan member. In thisembodiment, an opening is provided through the upper portion of the pan member I2 defining an air inlet opening; and a short tubular conduit member H0 having alower edge H2 of a shape corresponding to the shape of the opening through the pan mem: her is secured to the pan member by spot welding or the like. j 1

The member I I0 thus defines an'air inlet conduit within which a short tubular member H4, corresponding to the member IOI previously described, is mounted. The tubular member H4 has a flange H6 around a portion of its upper edge. The flange H8 is adapted to embrace the outer surface of the ofiset portion 86 of the annular member 82 and the remaining portion of the upper edge of the tubular member II4'is adapted to abut against the under surface of the annular member 82.

The tubular member H4 is of such a length that it extends downwardly beneath the surface of the liquid 54 within the pan member so that the air entering the pan member is caused to pass downwardly throughthe liquid before passing through the separator structure.

In another modified structure illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, the tubular member H4 is replaced with another tubular conduit member I I8 which may be secured to the annular member 82 in the same manner as the tubular member II 4 above described. The tubular member H8 extends downwardly beneath the normal top surface of the liquid 54 to a position closely adjacent the bottom of the pan I2. An offset portion I which is substantially semi-circular in cross-section forms the lower part of the tubular member H8. Theofiset portion I20 is open at its end I22 and also along its bottom edge I24 so that the air passed through the-tubular member H8 is free to escape upwardly through the liquid 54 but is confined for a substantial distance around the periphery of the pan I2 ad- 'J'acent the bottom thereof so as to assist in the separation of the foreign material from the air.

The offset portion I20 is preferably tangentially disposed within the pan member so that the en-- tering air assists in effecting a movement of the liquid 54 within the pan which also assists in the separation of the foreign material from the air.

Referring to Fig, 13, another modified structure is illustrated in which the tubular member 4' is provided with a lower end portion I26 which is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member H4. The inlet passage thus formed is substantially ,L-shap-ed so that the entering air is confined within the conduit formed by the tubular member H4 and I26 and its direction of movement is changed before being discharged into the main body portion of the liquid 54.

In Figure 14, a modified form of base receptacle is illustrated at I30. The receptacle I30 is generally the same in shape as the receptacle I2 and serves the samepurpose. The receptacle I30 is formed by molding a plastic material as rubber or Bakelite into the form shown with an inlet spout I3I and a radially directed ledge I32. The ledge I32 extends substantially completely around the top opening with the exception of the regionof the inlet spout I3I of the receptacle I30 in downwardly spaced relation to the top" 84 is dispensed with and the member 82 is supported directly upon studs I36 which are threadably mounted to the wall of the receptacle I2 in downwardly spaced relation from the top thereof.

In Figure lfi ajmodified structure is illustrated for mounting the partitioning unit 82, which includes an annular member I40 having an inwardly and radially. directed ledge I42 formed as a flange. -'Ihe annular member I40 may be fixed to the pan member I2 so that the ledge I42 is spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the pan member by spot Welding. In this case also, the flange 84 is dispensed with and the member 82 removably rests on the ledge I42.

A handle 80 may be suitably secured to the cover I4 along the top thereof so that the cleaning unit as a whole may be readily transported from one position to another by hand.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A vacuum cleaner construction comprising a base constituting a pan member adapted to contain a bath of liquid, a casing disposed above and supported on and secured to said pan member closing the same, a housing within said casing, a motor and fan mounted within said housing serving to draw air upwardly from said pan member through said casing, a resilient partitioning memberclamped to said housing and casing, serving to separate said pan member and said casing into upper andlower compartments and providing the sole means interconnecting said housing and casing, and another annular partitioning member mounted within said pan member and disposed under said first named partition member and above said bath, said another partition member having a resilient portion so arranged as to bear against the under surface of said first named partitioning member when the parts are in their assembled positions. v

2. In a device of the class described, a portable vacuum cleaner housing having inlet and outlet openings therethrough and including a receptacle adapted to contain abath of liquid, said inlet opening communicating with said receptacle, a blower within said housing, a rotary centrifugal separator extending into said receptacle above said bath, and an annular, generally discshaped member mounted within said receptacle transversely thereof above said bath having an inner annular portion extending in close proximity to but slightly spaced from said centrifugal separator in surrounding relation thereto, and means for driving said blower and said separator for drawing air into said housing through said inlet opening, into contact with the liquid of said bath, through the separator, and for discharging the air through the outlet opening.

3. A vacuum cleaner construction comprising a base constituting a pan member adapted to contain a bath of liquid, a housing supported on and secured to said pan member closing the same, a motor and fan mounted within said housin serving to draw air upwardly from said .pan member through said housing, a centrifugal separator driven by said motor and extending into said pan member above the normal surface of said bath, and. an annular, generally disc resilient portion on the top surface thereof so arranged as to bear against the under surface of said housing.

4. A vacuum cleaner construction comprising a base constituting a pan member adapted to contain a bath of liquid, a casing disposed above and supported on and secured to said pan member closing the same, a housing within said casing, a motor .and fan mounted within said housing serving to draw air upwardly from said pan member through said casing, a resilient partitioning member clamped to said housing and casing serving to separate said pan member and said easing into upperand lower compartments and providing the sole means interconnecting said housing and said casing, and another partitioning member mounted within said pan member and disposed under said first named partitioning member and above said bath, said another partitioning member having a resilient portion so arranged as to bear against the under surface of said housing and being of suiiicient strength to support the weight of the first named partitioning member with the motor and fan mounted therein.

5. In a device of the class described, a portable vacuum cleaner housing having inlet and outlet openings therethrough and including a removable receptacle containing a bath of liquid, means forming an air inlet conduit communicating with said inlet opening and directing theair entering said receptacle in a direction tangential to the wall of said receptacle, a blower within said housing, a rotary centrifugal separator extending into said receptacle above the normal surface of said bath, and an annular partitioning member mounted within said receptacle having a resilient portion extending into close proximity to but slightly spaced from said separator in surrounding relation thereto, and means for driving said. blower and said separator for drawing air into said housing through said inlet opening, into contact with the surface of said liquid bath, through said separator, and for discharging the air through said outlet opening.

6. A unitary partition construction for use in a vacuum cleaner construction comprising an .annular sheet metal member having a central opening therethrough, a depending tubular member connected to said sheet metal member adjacent one edge thereof, a resilient member generally complementary in shape to said sheet metal member and secured to one side thereof, said resilient member extending radially inwardly beyond the edge of said central opening and said resilient member having an upstanding rib formed thereon adjacent said central opening.

7. In a unitary partition construction for use in a vacuum cleaner construction comprising an annular member having a central opening therethrough, 8. depending tubular member connected to said member adjacent one edge thereof, a resilient member generally complementary in shape to said first named member and secured to one side thereof, said resilient member extending radially inwardly beyond the edge of said central opening and said resilient member having an up" standing rib formed thereon adjacent said central opening.

' CLARENCE A. BROCK.

NODIAH E. HUTCHENS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,221, 572; Novegnb'er 12, 191w.

CLARENCE A. BROCK, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, lines 21 to 25, claim 1;, for the words "said housing and being of sufficient strength to support the weight of the first named partitioning member" read --said first named partitioning member and being of sufficient strength to support the weight of the housing; and that the said.,. Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ase in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 17th day of December, A. D. 191m.

Henry Van Arsdale f (Seali Acting Commissioner of Patents." 

